Calgary’s elected officials will meet at 9:30 a.m.Monday to debate the 2017 budget. The meeting, which will including briefings from city managers and input from the public, is expected to last at least two days. City Hall reporter Annalise Klingbeil tells you what to watch for during the budget deliberations.

1. Effect of the continuing economic downturn

The word “economy” appears 36 times in a 101-page budget report to council, and the word “economic” is found another 113 times. Clearly, Calgary’s still-struggling economy will be a major focus this week. The report emphasizes how the economy has dramatically shifted since the city’s four-year financial plan was approved in late 2014. The city says proposed budget adjustments take into account the effects that the economic downturn is having on Calgarians and, in response, includes “significant” relief on property taxes and city fees.

2.Capital Spending

City staff has proposed a new plan for capital spending in an attempt to spur economic growth. A 21-page report on the spending plan, which doesn’t rely on any new taxes or debt, highlights investing in three specific areas. The first includes lands surrounding the Calgary International Airport. The second involves the creation of a “cultural and entertainment district” that includes the east end of downtown, the Rivers District, Victoria Park and the Stampede grounds. And the third is a section of northwest Calgary near the Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary campus and McMahon Stadium, which the city aims to develop into an “innovation, education and wellness district.” How these plans would fit in with Calgary’s potential 2026 Olympic bid, or the pitch for CalgaryNEXT by the Calgary Flames ownership group, could be a related topic of discussion.

3. Help for businesses

Last week, Coun. Andre Chabot warned of significant property tax increases for businesses outside of downtown, and the budget report acknowledges the surging office vacancy rate in Calgary’s core will result in a “redistribution of taxes from the downtown to other property types outside the downtown.” To help struggling businesses, the city is considering up to $15 million in non-residential and business tax relief. City staff is also pitching a $50,000 plan to create a “small business tactical support team” that would work with building owners and real estate brokers to cut red tape and help small, local stores open up shop.

4. Freezing taxes and fees

In late June, Calgary city council voted unanimously in favour of dipping into its rainy-day fund to give Calgarians property tax relief in 2017. Councillors approved a 1.5 per cent property tax hike for 2017 but voted to offset that increase with a one-time rebate by withdrawing money from the fiscal stability reserve, effectively giving Calgarians a tax freeze. And, in addition to a previously approved freeze on recreation, parks and pet licensing fees, the budget report proposes fee relief in three more areas. Those include drawing another $13 million from the rainy-day fund to withhold billing for the city’s new green cart service until 2018 (an idea previously discussed by council), freezing planning and development permit and license fees for 2017, and freezing fire inspection fees, which are collected by the Calgary Fire Department for fire permits, fireworks permits, blasting permits and fire code compliance inspections.

5.What to cut

From discontinuing door-to-door pickup of discarded Christmas trees to reducing landfill operating hours, several small service reductions are on the table for 2017. The city estimates that combined, the reductions could save $4.6 million “that will be used to support council direction of keeping the property tax rate increase down for 2017.”

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